The first item is surely to congratulate the Reading University team on the excellent GR-online edition published early this year. It is truly impressive, and has set a very high standard. Although I admit to missing the ‘hard copy’, I know we have made the right decision, even more so since the feedback from the first issue has been so positive.

Second, at the November 2006 BSG Strategy Meeting, I put forward a proposal to devolve responsibility for specific tasks to 5 Working Parties (WPs) within the Executive Committee, and invite co-option from the BSG membership who could offer expertise to the groups. Please see the 2006-2008 plan agreed by the Executive Committee at the Strategy Meeting.

At the February Executive Committee, the Chairs of the WPs who attended the meeting produced reports and I am much encouraged by the hard work ‘in the wings’. Once we have established a more formal method of reporting back, these reports will be published in editions of GR on-line for information, discussion and comment from the membership.

I’m especially pleased to report the revitalisation of our international connections through the work of Judith Phillips. We will be reinforcing contacts by hosting a reception at the IAGG-ER in St Petersburg. Age Concern England has offered to give some support to the reception. I’m hoping many of you will be attending and nearer the time, we will put out a call to make sure that you will be invited to the gathering.

With reference to the second item in Objective Five, I am reporting back on the proposed joint British Council on Ageing (BCA) bid to host the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics European Region (IAGG-ER) in Docklands, London 2011. The next IAGG meeting, as you know is being held in St Petersburg this July where the competition and vote for hosting 2011 will be carried out. Preliminary discussions with the two other members of the BCA, that is the British Geriatric Society (BGS) and the British Society for Research on Ageing (BSRA), were very encouraging and there was a positive will to take this forward. We entered into negotiation with ExCeL Exhibition Centre and VisitLondon (formally the London Tourist Authority), the ‘destination’ venue organisers – accommodation, transport, entertainment etc.

The BSG Executive Committee supported the exploration but agreed that the BSG could not do this alone if BGS and BSRA were unable to commit to the project. Judith Phillips, Alex Mair (BGS) and I visited the conference venue in Docklands and subsequently outline costs, dates and strategies were drafted. These costs were put before the Executive Committees of the BGS and BSRA and, with great reluctance, they considered that the venture was too risky financially for the fledgling BCA to undertake. Their concern was compounded by the fact that the original dates agreed (6-10 July) were no longer free and the alternatives (early June or late July) meant overseas delegates, especially those from northern Europe, may not wish/be able to attend. A thoughtful and measured report was sent to me regarding the decision and the conclusion and recommendation was:

“The BCA should certainly consider bidding to host an IAGG-ER Congress, but not before it has secured a range of partners prepared to underwrite the project nor until it has a much firmer financial base from which to launch such a project.

In the absence of meaningful projected income figures incorporating support from government, the London Tourist Authority, or some such body, the business case for proceeding is fragile.”

I have mixed feelings. I am disappointed that British Gerontology and Geriatrics will not be put firmly on the IAGG map. In 2011, all the area surrounding ExCeL will be fully built and operational, including transport and accommodation and the year before the Olympics, London is likely to be a popular ‘destination venue’ for delegates and partners. However, it would have entailed a considerable personal commitment and although Judith and I would be happy to make such a commitment, we are ‘speaking’ for subsequent BSG officers, which could be tricky. I do feel we have lost an opportunity, but there is no reason why another attempt could not be made to get the BCA together for a joint bid in 2015.

However, the collaboration has meant that I now have a very good working relationship with Janet Lord of BSRA and Alex Mair of BGS which we can now take forward into our joint meetings, the next of which will be notified soon, and I will report back in the next edition of GR on-line.

And finally:

The Yorkshire Conference

I am so looking forward to returning to Sheffield for the 2007 BSG Annual Conference. The organising team has put together a stimulating programme within the excellent facilities provided in Sheffield Hallam.

I am especially looking forward to seeing as many of you there as possible.